Fees and funding

Scholarships, bursaries, loans and tuition fees

Each year, LSE awards around £4 million in scholarships and financial support to its undergraduate students. In addition to LSE's own funds, students may be able to access scholarships and financial support from governments and agencies around the world.

The scholarship has allowed me to feel financially stable, and broaden my horizons both academically and socially; I am able to purchase new books, buy into societies at LSE and go out and meet new people!

The School recognises that the cost of living in London may be higher than in your home town or country. LSE provides generous financial support, in the form of bursaries and scholarships to UK, EU and overseas students, whilst Government support is available to UK and some EU students.

This page summarises the financial support which is on offer for new undergraduates at LSE starting in September 2018 and also what is available from the UK Government.

Every undergraduate student is charged a fee each year of their programme.

The fee covers registration and examination fees payable to the School, lectures, classes and individual supervision, lectures given at other colleges under intercollegiate arrangements and, under current arrangements, membership of the Students' Union. It does not cover living costs or travel or fieldwork.

Fees are fixed each spring for the following session only, and will be published in the Table of Fees.

All queries regarding your fees and fee payments are dealt with by the Fees Office.

Fee status classification

On receipt of your UCAS form the School carries out an assessment of your fee status determining the amount you are likely to pay at Registration. This decision is based on guidelines provided by the Department of Education: Education (Fees and Awards) Regulations 2007.

UK and EU students

The fee for new UK and EU students starting in 2018 is £9,250.* The fee may also rise with inflation in the subsequent years of your study.

*The UK Government confirmed in April 2017 that the fee level for EU undergraduate new entrants in 2018/19 will be the same as Home UK for the duration of their undergraduate degree programme. Further information can be found on gov.uk website.

Channel Island students

For 2018 the LSE tuition fee for new undergraduates ordinarily resident in the Channel Islands is £9,250 for the first year, but may rise in line with inflation in subsequent years.

Overseas students

The LSE tuition fee for new overseas (non-EU) undergraduates in 2018 is £19,152 for the first year.

Overseas students are required to pay this fee in instalments or in full at the start of each year. The overseas fee usually rises by between 2.5 per cent and 4 per cent each year.

We estimate that you should allow about £1,100-£1,300 per month for all living expenses, including accommodation, travel, food, laundry, study costs, and other personal expenses. This will vary depending on your lifestyle and requirements, so it's important you do your own research.

Please note that if you will be applying for a visa, you will have to provide evidence of sufficient funds, and these amounts may vary.

Students from England and the EU

Tuition fee loans

For those starting at LSE in 2018, students ordinarily resident in England and the EU* do not have to pay the tuition fee up front. The UK Government provides students with a tuition fee loan to cover the full cost of the fee for the duration of your undergraduate programme.

Maintenance loans

The 2018 arrangements related to maintenance loans have not yet been published. The information below refers to the 2017 arrangements.

All eligible students from England are able to take out a maintenance loan to help with living costs. Students from the EU are not normally eligible for maintenance loans from the UK government, but may be eligible for a Bursary.

Students from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales

Students living in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, including those who study in England, receive their financial support from their “home” devolved administration.

Check the relevant website below for the latest information on fees and financial support available for 2018 entry.

The School provides generous financial support, in the form of bursaries and scholarships to UK, EU and overseas students.

Although the terms of the UK’s exit agreement from the EU have not yet been finalised, LSE will continue to make funding available to all students regardless of fee status.

LSE Bursaries

Undergraduate students from the UK and EU students are eligible for an LSE Bursary assessed according to household income.

For new students starting in 2018, the maximum Bursary available is £4,000 per year for those students with the lowest residual incomes. The Bursary value tapers to £750 for those students on higher incomes to a maximum of £42,611.

LSE Discretionary Bursaries

A number of Discretionary Bursaries are available for UK and EU LSE students who face exceptional financial need. The value of the award may vary according to need, but is not expected to exceed a total of £4,000 combined with the LSE Bursary.

LSE scholarships

Each year LSE awards a number of scholarships, funded by private or corporate donation, to our students. The number, value, eligibility criteria and type of awards vary from year to year.

All the scholarships are awarded on the basis of financial need in the first instance, and then academic merit.

Below are the details of confirmed scholarships for 2018 entry. New scholarships will become available during the course of the admissions cycle. We recommend you check this webpage on a regular basis. The application process is contained within each of the below sections.

The School provides generous financial support, in the form of bursaries and scholarships to UK, EU and overseas students.

LSE Undergraduate Support Scheme

The LSE Undergraduate Support Scheme (USS) is designed to help overseas students who do not have the necessary funds to meet all their costs of study. The amount of assistance will vary according to individual financial needs but awards are usually between £6,000 and £15,000.

LSE scholarships

Each year LSE awards a number of scholarships, funded by private or corporate donation, to our students. The number, value, eligibility criteria and type of awards vary from year to year. Awards are made on the basis of financial need in the first instance, and then academic merit.

Below are the details of confirmed scholarships for 2018 entry. New scholarships will become available during the course of the admissions cycle. We recommend you check this webpage on a regular basis. The application process is contained within each of the below sections.